problem of converting aliphatic hydrocarbons into aromatics is an old one. The importance of the successful solution of this problem lies in the value of aromatics as high antiknock motor fuels, solvents, raw material for explosives (TNT), and a practically endless variety of organic chemicals useful for dye intermediates, pharmaceuticals, medicináis, synthetic resins, etc. It is extremely important from the viewpoint that a practically unlimited supply of raw material is available in the form of petroleum and coal per se, whereas the present source of raw materials for aromatics is coal tar of which there is only a limited supply.Various solutions of the problem have been attempted by purely thermal cracking ever since Faraday's memorable discovery (7) of benzene in 1825.Faraday's work was followed by investigations by a number of technologists among whom Letny (15), Rudnew (SO), Dvorkovitch (8), Nikiforoff (17), Pamfilow (18), and Zelinsky (22) should be mentioned. During the World War extensive investigations were carried out in this country by Rittman (19) and Egloff with Twomey and Moore (6).In these investigations (4) it has been usually assumed, with the work of Berthelot (1) and Haber (10) as a basis, that the aromatics are formed over the acetylene or ethylene route.